Ballast-handling device.



No. 785,135. PATENTED MAR. 21,` 1905. N. P. WALTERS. BALLAST HANDLING DEVICE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED 5111.12, 1905.

I nventor:

Httomegs UNITED STATES Patented March 21, 1905 PATENTV OEEICEo y NILS P. WALTERS, OF FORT MADISON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO l CHARLES L. OKELL, OF FORT MADISON, IOWA.

BALLAST-HANDLING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,135, dated March 21, 1905.

Application iled January 12,1905. Serial No. 240,826.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, N-ILs I. IVALTERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Madison, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Ballast- Handling Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the art of ballasting railwayroad-beds, and has for its object to facilitate, the handling' and placing of the ballast beneath the ties of the road-bed after the latter has been jacked up.

A further object of the invention is to embody the same in the nature of an implement capable of carrying the ballast and of being conveniently handled for introducing the device and the ballast beneath the tie and then withdrawing the device, so as to leave the ballast deposited beneath the tie without withdrawing the ballast with the device. With these and other objects in View the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a railwaytrack having the device of the present invention inserted beneath one of the ties to introduce ballast therebeneath. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional View showing the device beneath a tie with the base member partially withdrawn. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail perspective views of the grating and base members respectively.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in each and every figure of the drawings. n

The present device includes a base or bottom member l in the nature of a flat oblong pan, preferably formed of metal and of suitable dimensions, there being upstanding longitudinal anges 2 at opposite edges of the pan, the forward end 4 of the pan b eing bowed or rounded somewhat in the manner of a scoop 5o and the forward ends of the longitudinal iianges 2 being beveled or inclined downwardly and forwardly, as at 5. At the rear end of this pan is an upstanding arched handle 6, which is riveted or otherwise connected to the longitudinal flanges 2. In addition to the base or pan member there is an upper grating member 7 in the nature of a zigzag bar having an arched or loop-shaped handle 8 rising from one of the end courses or bars 9 of the grating. 6o A pair of flat straps or bars 10 extend across the intervals between the three courses or transverse portions of the grating at the forward end thereof, the forward ends of the straps or bars being upon the under side of the grating and their rear ends upon the upper side thereof, whereby said bars are designed to form -shoes for a purpose as will be hereinafter described.

When making use of the device, the upper 7o grating member is placed within the pan, with the handles 8 and 6 in close proximity, the length and width of the grating member being substantially that of the pan, so as to kfit easily therein. After the two members have been assembled the ballast of whatever character is shoveled or otherwise placed upon the device, and then the latter is picked up and introduced beneath atie which has been previously jacked up, and then the pan member 8o is drawn out from beneath the ballast by means of its handle 6, whereupon as the pan isI being moved outwardly the unsupported portion of the ballast will drop down through the grating, and thereby be deposited upon the ground beneath the tie, the grating serving to prevent the ballast from being drawn out with the pan. When the pan has been entirely withdrawn, the ballast will be beneath the grating and the grating will be supported 9o upon the top of the ballast and may therefore be drawn out from beneath the tie without disturbing the ballast, the parts 10 serving as shoes to ride upon the top of the ballast, and thereby prevent the forward end of the grating from sinking into the ballast and disturbing the same when the grating is being drawn out. This operation is repeated as often as may be necessary to place the required amount ot' ballast beneath the tie, and then the latter is let down upon the ballast in the usual manner.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention includes but two members, which may be readily assembled preparatory to receiving the ballast, andthen manually handling to place the device and the ballast beneath a tie, after which the members are capable of being conveniently and successively withdrawn from the ballast, so as to deposit the latter in a simple and effective manner beneath the tie without scattering the ballast, whereby the present device has an economic value as well as an advantage in the convenient placing of the ballast `beneath the tie.

Having fully described the invention, what is claimed isl. A ballast-handling device comprising a base member and a grating member removably supported thereon, the base member capable of being withdrawn from beneath the grating member.

2. A ballast-handling device comprising a base member having a terminal handle, and a grating member supported upon the base member and provided with a terminal handle adjacent the handle of the base, said members capable of being successively withdrawn from beneath a charge of ballast to deposit the latter upon the ground.

3. A ballast-handling device comprising a base member having opposite longitudinal anges with its forward end open and its rear end provided with an upstanding handle, and a grating member removably supported upon the base member between the flanges thereotl and provided with Van upstanding handle located adjacent the handle of the base, the base capable of being withdrawn from beneath the grating when the latter is supported by its handle.

4. A ballast-handling device comprising a base member which has one end unobstructed and its opposite end provided with a handle, and a grating member in the form of a Zigzag bar removably supported upon the base and provided with a handle adjacent the handle of the base, said base capable of being withdrawn from beneath the grating member when the latter is supported by its handle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

NILS P. VVAL'IERS.

Witnesses:

C. W. CARMAN, H. SCHLEURER. 

